A few days later, Aoki and Kamizrei arrived at the Valley of Steel.
"Kamizrei, this area is home to many Steel-type Pokémon, but Electric-types are relatively scarce," Aoki noted as he observed the rugged terrain.
"I understand. Although I primarily train Electric-types for my Gym, I wouldn't mind capturing other strong Pokémon if given the opportunity," Kamizrei replied.
"That's the right mindset. You already have Zebstrika, Magneton, and Eelektross—more than enough to form the core of an Electric-type Gym. But catching a few Pokémon with high potential outside your specialty wouldn't hurt," Aoki advised.
Kamizrei had the potential to become an Elite-level Trainer, but Elite-qualified Pokémon were rare. Fortunately, she already had four Pokémon with quasi-Elite potential—Eelektross, Magneton, Marshtomp, and Spheal. If trained properly, they could all reach Elite level in the future.
"Alright, let's explore the Valley of Steel and see if we can find any rare Pokémon."
Aoki took the lead, holding Ralts in his arms while Chansey and Greninja walked beside him. Along the way, they encountered various Steel-type Pokémon. Chansey handled most of them with ease, while Greninja took care of the stronger ones.
Suddenly, a familiar voice reached Aoki's ears.
"Meowth, did you find the Beldum?"
Aoki's eyes sharpened. Beldum.
"Kamizrei, did you hear that? Someone mentioned Beldum," Aoki asked, making sure he wasn't imagining things.
"I did. It sounded like someone was talking about finding one," Kamizrei confirmed.
Aoki's heart pounded. A wild Beldum… a pseudo-legendary Pokémon. If trained properly, it could definitely reach the Elite level.
"We have to check it out," Aoki said, moving quickly toward the source of the voice.
Soon, he spotted the person speaking—Tetsuya.
Aoki knew him well. Tetsuya was a skilled Trainer who had defeated him in a previous battle. He also recalled that, in the future, Tetsuya would own a powerful Metagross. Could this be the same Beldum he was about to catch?
Aoki smirked. Sorry, Tetsuya, but this Beldum is mine now.
As Aoki approached, Tetsuya noticed him and visibly tensed.
"Aoki? What a surprise," Tetsuya said cautiously.
"Yeah, long time no see. I heard there was a strong Steelix in this area, so I came to check it out," Aoki replied casually, keeping Beldum out of the conversation.
Tetsuya breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Aoki didn't know about the Beldum, there was no risk of competition.
Aoki suddenly turned to Kamizrei. "Kamizrei, you need more battle experience. Why don't you have a friendly match with Tetsuya?"
Kamizrei immediately understood Aoki's intent. He was stalling for time.
"Of course. Mr. Tetsuya, would you care for a three-on-three battle?" Kamizrei challenged.
Tetsuya hesitated but eventually agreed. "Sure, let's have a match."
While Tetsuya and Kamizrei prepared for battle, Aoki subtly placed his hand on Jirachi and used telepathy.
"Jirachi, find the Beldum. Take some of my best Energy Cubes and use them to lure it. Lead it somewhere safe and hide it."
Jirachi's eyes gleamed as it teleported away, its mission clear.
Meanwhile, the battle began.
"Eelektross, use Thunderbolt!" Kamizrei commanded.
"Meowth, counter with Thunderbolt!" Tetsuya responded.
As the fight continued, Jirachi found the Beldum. Using its psychic abilities, it gently guided the Steel/Psychic-type away, offering it delicious Energy Cubes to earn its trust.
Moments later, Aoki heard Jirachi's voice in his mind.
"Mission accomplished! The Beldum and I are hiding in the cave to the left. Once the battle is over, come find us."
Aoki smirked but quickly suppressed his excitement. He couldn't afford to let Tetsuya suspect anything.
Stay calm. Don't show any reaction.
With a neutral expression, Aoki focused on the battle.
Tetsuya was the more experienced Trainer, and it showed. Despite Kamizrei's talent, she hadn't battled as frequently as him. Eelektross put up a strong fight, but Kamizrei's other Pokémon struggled against Tetsuya's well-trained team.
After a tough battle, Tetsuya emerged victorious, having lost only two Pokémon.
"The battle is over, Kamizrei. Don't feel bad—you put up a good fight," Aoki said reassuringly.
Kamizrei sighed. "I still have a lot to learn."
Tetsuya nodded. "You're strong, but more battle experience will help. Keep training, and you'll improve quickly."
Aoki patted Kamizrei's shoulder. "Now, let's move on. We still have a lot to do."
With his prize waiting for him in the cave, Aoki felt a sense of triumph. This Beldum is mine.
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